Two jailed over family rampage

Two people have been sent to jail over a family rampage that
saw the storming of two houses in search of the mother's
former flatmate.

When the assailants found Tania Stewart cowering on a bedroom
floor, she was attacked with a baseball bat while her
10-year-old daughter looked on.

In the early hours of October 28, 2012, Hinemoa Epere, 21,
and her mother Jane Albert were "yelling and screaming" as
they forced their way into the Auckland home of Ms Stewart's
mother, the High Court at Auckland heard today. Ms Stewart
was not there.

They were joined by Albert's son Horeta Epere, 23, and
discussed "smashing" Ms Stewart before they arrived at her
house.

They forced their way inside and found Ms Stewart cowering in
a room.

Hinemoa Epere said she left when things "got out of control",
but her brother and mother remained and hit Ms Stewart with a
baseball bat they had found at the house, the court heard.

Ms Stewart's partner fled to seek help, but a lodger and Ms
Stewart's 10-year-old daughter remained and witnessed the
attack, leaving the young girl traumatised.

Ms Stewart suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow, a
broken knee and a deep laceration to the back of her head
that required stapling to repair. She was in hospital for
three days and still suffers from the attack's after-effects,
the court heard.

Horeta Epere's lawyer Vicki Pomeroy said her client hit Ms
Stewart a couple of times and then left the room as Albert
continued the attack. Horeta Epere administered the blows
after hearing that Ms Stewart had assaulted Albert, who did
not report the matter to police.

Justice Murray Gilbert rejected the idea of provocation but
accepted that Albert had instigated the attack.

Hinemoa Epere's lawyer Nathan Speir said his client had a
drinking problem.

"The number of alcoholic drinks consumed on the night in
question is extraordinary for one so young, and concerning.
The [pre-sentence] report writer notes it appears Ms Epere
has had this problem since she was 11-years-old."

She admitted two charges of burglary and was jailed today for
one year and 11 months.

Horeta Epere was sentenced today to seven years and two
months in jail after admitting one charge each of burglary
and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Albert had previously been sentenced to seven years and eight
months' jail on two charges of burglary and one of causing
grievous bodily harm with intent.